Stoeger 3500 and remngton versa max thoughts post season?

[Jtwaddle]

I havnt seen any post season reviews for the stoeger 3500 yet. Was wondering what owners think now with atleast one season under the guns belt. Wondering how it preformed in the cold temps. Still cycled 3-3 1/2 shells reliably? Probably gunna be picking one up with my tax return barring any completely horrible reviews. Also curious how the versa Max faired this season?

[DSM16428]

Let me start with this...

Second only to the Model 887...THE VERSAMAX IS THE BIGGEST PIECE OF JUNK EVER PRODUCED BY REMINGTON!!!! In its first few months of production, which btw has been drastically reduced due to dismall sales, it was recalled I think twice. They use the Probore tubes, not the much more readilly available Rem-chokes. The 3 or 4 that I have handled did shoulder well and pointed well, but when you cycle the action and find METAL SHAVINGS in the breech of every one...not good.

The Stoeger 3500 is basically a long-stroke (yes Jay, I said it) inertial driven shotgun similar in operation to the original Benelli Super Black Eagle, but with the recoil spring assembly mounted over the magazine tube, not the butt stock. While that makes the foregrip a bit long, it does not however do anything to impair its pointability and in fact to me would only help with swing and follow through on flying targets. It comes with 5 chokes, including a turkey extra-full, shim kit, recoil reduction system. It does have that horrible Benelli trigger pull, but at about half the cost of the Versacrap, I could learn to live with it. The guys on Gun Nuts TV gave it very good scores as well, finding few things they didn't like about it. The reviewer also fired some pretty light loads up through the nasty 3.5" turkey and waterfowl loads and it functioned flawelessly. You can find their review on the gunnutstv.com web site.

[North]

I can't speak about the versa max, but my 3500 was perfect this season. It points very well for me. It isn't the prettiest thing in the field, but it goes bang, bang, bang everytime, and I don't worry about it getting wet or muddy like I did with my Red Lable! It shoots well and hasn't let me down yet... for $570 bucks, I don't see how you can go wrong.

[Jtwaddle]

I can't find that video, do you think you could post a link to it? And thanks for all the info. I definitely think I am going to go for the stoeger.

[DSM16428]

No joke! It is a true gem for an excellent price! Sure it may be a "diamond in the rough" so to speak but it is far better than the M-2000 that precedes it and it'll handle up to 3 1/2" shells and even lighter 2 3/4" stuff. Good gun imo.

[max1982]

I haven't shot either of the guns, but what I have read and heard is that they are both good guns. The VM when it first came out was POS but all the people I have talked to this year and everything that I have read off of other forums are saying the new one's are a really good gun, two of my buddies sold there SBE2 to buy them and told me it was the best thing they ever did.

Clint

[SX3gunner]

My buddy bought the 3500 before the season this year. Got it home and we stripped it down and cleaned it really well. We shot skeet and 5 stand. 150 rounds without cycling problems of the 2 3/4 light loads but, the butt stock came loose... We went home and put it back together with the lock tight that allows removal. He has shot quite a few geese and ducks with this gun. It comes with a recoil reducer an eight ounce weight that screws into a rod in the butt stock. We installed the recoil reducer as the 3.5's were hurting his shoulder (sally ) it made a huge difference in the recoil. Now, Since he installed the recoil reducer it wont cycle the 2 3/4 light loads. Also, something strange he can hold the gun by the barrel and bump the butt stock on the ground and the receiver will slide down just a bit (maybe 1/8 of an inch) and the barrel is a little lose.

All in all - great gun for the price

[DSM16428]

If the barrel can be moved the gun is not assembled correctly. The barrel retention nut needs to be TIGHT. If you can shift the barrel, the nut isn't tight enough. A little bit of wiggle in the foregrip is not unusual however. Tighten the nut down by hand as tight as possible, then with the gun unloaded, place the butt on the ground on a solid surface and put your weight on the barrel, pushing towards the butt. While your weight is on the barrel, hand tighten the nut until it stops. It should now be tight enough so that the barrel/reciever upper doesn't shift. If they do then it is a manufacturing issue and needs to go back to Benelli. If you allow the barrel to slop around...on ANY shotgun where you're shooting heavy loads, you risk snapping the barrel ring solder weld or worse, launching the barrel like a javeline. As far as needing loktite on the stock rod threads...you shouldn't need it. There should be a lock washer under the nylock nut that keeps the whole assembly tight. As far as the recoil reducer keeping the gun from shooting light loads...if anything it should HELP with light loads by adding mass to the gun and helpingg to hold the gun static undeer recoil. Sounds more like he isn't holding the gun snug against his shoulder which must be done with inertial driven guns to keep them cycling properly with light loads.

[Jtwaddle]

From everything I read the recoil reducer being installed is suppose to make it not cycle 2 3/4 loads reliably. I think I read somewhere that it actually says it in the manual that installing the recoil reducer will increase inconsistency with 2 3/4 loads. Did you ever find that gun nuts review video? I couldn't find it.

[cashman]

...The Stoeger 3500 is basically a long-stroke (yes Jay, I said it) inertial driven shotgun similar in operation to the original Benelli Super Black Eagle...

He thaid "Stroke..."

[DSM16428]

Knew I could count on you. Took you long enough though...

[cashman]

Knew I could count on you. Took you long enough though...

Relax pumpkin, some of us on this site actually do go goose hunting

[jaybee240]

I was really leaning toward the Escort but the stoeger sounds nice...I shoot a stoeger p350 now

[Jtwaddle]

Escort? Never heard of it? Or is that a reference to the "stroking"? Ha.

[DSM16428]

I was really leaning toward the Escort but the stoeger sounds nice...I shoot a stoeger p350 now

Here's a write up from C.H. Short but to the point.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/stoeger_M3500.htm

As far as the recoil reducer causing feed issues. I could only find one reference to that and it was on Benelli forum. Honestly, I don't see the need for it...the gun already weighs 7 1/2 pounds and is a semi auto gun, both reducing recoil over a lighter, pump gun. For the money, while both the 3500 and the Escorts are "turkish" guns, I would go with the stoeger all day.

[Jtwaddle]

Anyone else have reviews from this season?

[2500hdon37s]

I got a Maxus for christmas and I love it! very little recoil and some sweet features.

i used to shoot an 870 and it has preformed flawless for the thousands of rounds I've put though it.

on the other hand.. you couldn't give me a stoeger.

[Jtwaddle]

Why couldn't someone give you a stoeger?

[BenelliSBE2]

Why couldn't someone give you a stoeger?

Thats what I was thinking, I'l take that stoeger over a browning anyday of the week.

[cashman]

Why couldn't someone give you a stoeger?

Thats what I was thinking, I'l take that stoeger over a browning anyday of the week.

...and now we duel Benelli, for chosing a stogie over a Browning constitutes a sin forgivable only by the goose hunting gods themselves!

Let me summarize for you...
= Browning
= Stoeger
= Benelli

Y'all and your fancy pillowcase autoloaders need to put the big boy pants on find out what a real gun is made of